Read To Be With You for Free Online Page A

looked much smaller, much more elegant against Sean’s wide shoulders. Sean acted a perfect gentleman. When Tina’s hand strayed to his rear, he pulled it up quickly before Nicole could fly out of her chair to defend him. Obviously he didn’t need that from her anymore. She'd never had to share Sean. It made her feel insecure somehow, as if his attention was imperative to her safety, to her concept of self as important and valuable. She was thinking of going to take him back when a hand landed on her shoulder, stopping her.
    "Nicole," a male voice said. "Haven't seen you in a while."
    "Jake," she said. She didn’t want to look up. She knew the voice despite its lower timbre. Jake Hawkins. All the worst memories from high school rolled up in one person.
    She kept her eyes on her drink. She wasn’t going to make a scene. They were older now. And she didn’t want Sean to see her as weak. She didn’t need to be rescued, however many times she’d wished she had someone to rescue her from Jake in the past. In reality, he was just a harmless creep.
    "You alone?" He slumped into Sean's chair. She could see him in her peripheral vision. Taller, but not tall as Sean. Thin. She could see his pale, freckled hands and face. His reddish blond hair. A blur on his face that might be facial hair, but she wouldn’t look at him directly to confirm it.
    “Aw come on, not going to talk to your old friend?”
    She took another drink and looked up to see if anyone else was left at the table. No. Had Beth gone to the restroom after Tina left?
    "I'm here with a date," she said. And instantly regretted it. She didn’t want Sean involved. She didn’t want him protecting her. She needed to take care of herself. Otherwise things got complicated.
    "Sure," Jake said. He moved his face deliberately in front of hers.
    “Get out of my face. You’re drunk.”
    “And you’re hotter than before.” He moved closer. “But you don’t have a date.”
    “I have to go to the bathroom,” she said. It seemed like Jake wasn’t going to get the hint, and if she stayed there long enough, Sean would notice. And she just didn’t want to see it all play out.
    “Fine,” he said. “Can I have your drink?”
    She grabbed her purse and strode for the door.
    “Nicole.” She heard someone call her name but didn’t look over.
    She left the ballroom. She turned right and headed down a hall. When she came to the end and turned the corner, a hand stopped her.
    “Where you going?”
    “Get out of my face.”
    “Or what?” Jake leaned in and put his other hand on the other side.
    “Get off of me.”
    “Oh I’m scared.”
    “Seriously Jake, I don’t have time for this right now.” She moved her leg to get ready to bring it up swiftly if needed, but was shocked when he moved it aside with his. He was good.
    “Aw come on now,” he said. “I’m just picking up where we left off.” He leaned in to smell her hair. “I hoped you’d be here. That’s why I came.”
    “You’re such a creep.”
    “Shh,” he said. “Keep it down you don’t want to make a scene.”
    He was right, she didn’t. She tried to fight his hand as it slid up her side. She didn’t want anyone to come upon them and see what was happening. Why did she attract this everywhere she went? Like her stepdad had placed a target on her.
    She felt Jake’s hand on her skirt.
    “You stop that.” She slapped him. “Just stop, you idiot.”
    “Oh, you—” He pulled back a hand and she moved her head to the side and put her hands up to block her face. The slap didn’t come.
    “No!”
    She looked up in time to see a Jake-shaped blur fly into the wall. Sean turned to face her. His shoulders rose and fell and a vein twitched in his forehead. She backed into the wall.
    “It wasn’t my fault,” she said, pressing herself back.
    Sean narrowed his eyes and looked from Jake to Nicole. Jake didn’t get off the floor. He moaned, showing he was alive and uninjured, but was smart enough